MARK SMITH MORE COLUMNS Advertisement

Just reading about the Senate's refusal to vote for cloture where a federal shield law for journalists is concerned, and I'm not at all sure the idea of the law is all that great.

The law is backed by the Society of Professional Journalists, which in its own release says it would give journalists the right to withhold information and sources "with a few notable exceptions, including where national security is at issue."

Now really, how many ways do you suppose governments could twist matters to ensure that "national security" would be at issue whenever they wanted to step on a reporter?

If "national security" were the big deal, the Pentagon papers might never have seen the open air, or even much of the Watergate scandal.

True, lots of squealing politicos would see their efforts turned aside if they tried to quash a story, but it would just take one weasel-like judge to punt, agree that "national security" is a problem and pass a case along to a higher court to ensure that a story is kept from the public.

How a group promoting itself as "improving and protecting journalism since 1909" could support such a law is hard for me to understand.

Freedom of the press should be just that, period. As soon as it is protected by a law, governments will look for ways to circumvent that law.

Personally, it appears to me that this journalistic support of an implicit limitation on freedom of the press is part of the press' desire to roll over for government in the wake of Sept. 11 and try to be nice guys to the world at large. "See? We support the troops more than you do!"

In 1943 President Roosevelt ordered that publication of photos of dead G.I.'s be allowed in the press, and the war went right on to final victory. Today, a photo of a dead or even badly wounded G.I. gets a photographer thrown out, his credentials canceled, his access liquidated.

And the really sad thing is, there are intelligent people who think that's just fine and will defend the government's restrictions in that respect.

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Noteworthy at a recent candidates' night was the burst of unpleasantness between District Attorney Bob Beckett and incumbent Judge John Davis over the time it takes for plaintiffs and defendants alike to waltz up to Tonopah for civil trials.

Beckett said he wants more such trials held here in Pahrump, where the majority of the voters live, while Davis said he's spending a lot less time on the road, and saving taxpayer bucks, than had been the case.

But what was interesting was the sense on the part of some that Davis came across as arrogant. Meanwhile, Marla Zlotek is running a quietly competent campaign that could split the difference between the two more fiery candidates.

There is, in any event, an interesting story here. From what I've heard, Beckett expected Davis to retire this year. That is, Davis wouldn't even sign on for re-election and, just maybe, the way would be clear for Beckett to run in his place.

But within 24 hours of Beckett's pitching his proverbial hat into the proverbial ring, Davis hustled down to the clerk's office and put his own name on the ballot.

The story goes that Davis, if he wins, will spend another year on the bench, then retire and move to have his own replacement appointed by the governor.

And it's a cinch it won't be Bob Beckett whose name comes to rest on Gov. Gibbons' desk.

What also seems to have gone out the window is the fact that efforts are under way to put in a second courtroom here, which would, almost by definition, allow for what Beckett suggested to come to fruition.

Davis apparently refused to be drawn on the subject of the second courtroom.

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Meanwhile the county administration has remained remarkably silent about who's paying for the accident in which Beckett rolled a county SUV in Shoshone, Calif.

Will the insurance cover it? He was, after all, probably not on county business ... or was he? Even if he had been, you'd think there would be all the more reason for him to say so

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Our world traveler Mark Waite is off on another visit to South America, but this one won't take him away for all that long. He ought to be back at his desk by the end of the month, thank goodness. In the meantime, Josh Chase has filled in.

Also stepping away from the PVT is Christina Eichelkraut, who like Mark has established herself as a thoroughly professional journalist.

For several personal reasons, Christina is heading back to Las Vegas, where I certainly hope she will continue to find outlets for her journalistic skills.

Freelancer Chrissy Ohlinger has also moved on. She was married up at Mt. Charleston recently and has moved back south to Peru to be with her husband. We're hoping Mark Waite can make contact and take some photos of her in Lima.